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Around the Region: Readers wanted for the SI Leeds Literary Prize – Readers Choice

SI Leeds Literary Prize:  Readers’ Choice 2022

I am very happy to report that the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2022 is alive and well. We have had to work to a very tight timescale this year, with a narrow time envelope for writers to submit their entries – amazingly, we received 57 entries within the two week submission timeframe.

What is the SI Leeds Literary Prize?

For those members who don’t know, we have been running our national biennial Literary Prize for unpublished fiction written by UK-based Black and Asian women since 2012. Now in its sixth edition, we will be awarding the 2022 prize in October (further details to follow). Many previous winners have gone on to publishing success (see our website www.sileedsliteraryprize.com).

Why do we need readers?

Previous Winner Mahuda Snaith

1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes are awarded by the judges. But we also award the SI Readers’ Choice to the favourite entry as judged by participating readers. This may or may not be one of the three winners. We are looking for additional readers for the 2022 prize. SI members who have done it before have found it an enjoyable experience, and they are being contacted individually to see if they would like to be involved again. This additional award is seen by the industry as a valuable indication of the views of readers, rather than professional judges, and feedback by readers is extremely valuable to the shortlisted writers, whose unpublished manuscripts may not have been read by many.

 

What is involved?

SI members who wish to participate will be emailed the six shortlisted manuscripts by the last week in August and will be asked to vote for their preferred choice by a specified date in early October, giving a six-week window to review them. As manuscripts are unpublished, all reading happens electronically, either via a Kindle, tablet or computer.  This means a lot of reading but you don’t need to read each manuscript from start to finish. The first 50+ pages should give you a feel of whether the author has engaged your interest, so an entry that leaves you cold can be abandoned without guilt.  The SI Readers’ Choice is there to reward the book which most engaged you.  

How to sign up

If you would like to join us, please email me at audience@sileedsliteraryprize.com  and we will be in touch.  

Happy reading!

Val Saunders

Chair, SI Leeds Literary Prize Advisory Panel